user docs: Update getting-started-with-zulip.

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Rishi Gupta 2018-09-29 10:58:11 -07:00
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@ -4,19 +4,23 @@ Welcome to Zulip! Like any new tool, mastering Zulip will take some time,
but once you get the hang of it, you'll never want to use another chat
service again.
Zulip is designed around a few key ideas:
## Understand
- You spend far more time reading communications than writing them. So
Zulip is primarily designed to optimize consuming messages; either reading
them, or making an informed decision not to read them.
- Messages in Zulip are organized into streams and topics. Streams are
similar to chatrooms, IRC channels, and email lists in that they determine
who receives the message. Each conversation in a stream also has a topic,
which plays the role of the subject line of an email (though topics are
usually shorter, e.g. "logo" or "logo design", not "feedback on the new
logo design?") in that it organizes messages into threads.
- Zulip keeps careful track of which messages and threads you've read, and
always places you exactly where you left off.
Read our [guide to streams and topics](/help/about-streams-and-topics) to familiarize
yourself with Zulip's conversation model.
If this is your first time using Zulip, we recommend starting with the web
or desktop experience.
## Set up your account
- [Set a profile picture](/help/change-your-avatar)
- Get the [mobile and desktop apps](/apps)
- [Browse and subscribe to streams](/help/browse-and-subscribe-to-streams)
- [Configure your notifications](/#settings/notifications) to work the way
you do. If you're joining a low traffic organization and aren't using the
desktop app, consider sending all messages to email.
- [Review your settings](/help/review-your-settings)
## Basic workflows
@ -26,11 +30,12 @@ A few basic workflows are useful when getting oriented.
- Use the left sidebar (or the `n` key) to review messages thread-by-thread.
- Use the down arrow key (`↓`) to move the cursor to the next message.
- Use the End key to mark all messages in the current view as read (could be
a thread, stream, or anything else).
- Use the End key to mark all messages in the current view as read.
### For writing
- To reply to a message, click on it, or use `r` or `Enter` to reply to the
message under the blue box.
- When starting a new conversation, remember to start a new topic. Don't
overthink it; the first 2-3 words that come to your mind are probably
fine. Using topics may take some attention at the beginning, but after a
@ -38,21 +43,14 @@ A few basic workflows are useful when getting oriented.
- It is totally normal to have 5 conversations happening in a stream at the
same time; each on its own topic. So don't worry about interrupting; each
conversation has its own space.
- If you see a conversation where the last message was sent a few hours (or
days!) ago, feel free to reply anyway. It'll be easy for everyone to see
your reply in context, regardless of anything else that has happened on
the stream in the meantime.
- It is totally normal for conversations to last many hours or days, even in
busy streams. Don't worry about replying long after a message is sent;
everyone will see your reply in context.
## Next steps
## Advanced
Once you've figured out the basics, you'll probably want to:
- [Add an avatar](/#settings/your-account)
- [Get the mobile and desktop apps](/apps)
- [Configure your notifications](/#settings/notifications) to work the way
you do.
- [Browse the streams](/#streams/all) in your organization and join those of
interest.
- Master Zulip's [keyboard shortcuts](/help/keyboard-shortcuts). Anything
you can do with the mouse, you can do even faster from the keyboard. Start
- Master a few [keyboard shortcuts](/help/keyboard-shortcuts). Start
with `n`, `↓`, `c`, and `Enter`, and use `?` for help.
- Learn how to
[format your messages](/help/format-your-message-using-markdown) using
Markdown.